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TFT #2 - How to Actually Use School to Your Advantage

Welcome back to Tips for Twelfthies.

I recently finished most of my entrance exams, which means I finally have a little more time on my hands. Looking back, I spent countless hours figuring out how to study effectively, navigate school, and optimize my time. This podcast exists so that you don’t have to spend all that time reinventing the wheel yourself.

Today’s topic is simple:

How can you make better use of your school hours?

School is valuable for many people, and I don’t want to deny that. For some students, it’s a privilege and an opportunity they genuinely benefit from.

But if you’re highly curious, ambitious, or eager to learn beyond the syllabus, school can sometimes feel limiting. The curriculum may not match your interests, classes may move too slowly, and the system itself often leaves much to be desired.

The good news is that once you understand how the system works, you can begin to optimize it.

Here are some ideas that helped me.

Do Your Homework in School

As much as possible, finish your homework before you get home.

Imagine you’re given five questions to solve. At school, you can often finish them during free moments between classes. If you postpone them until home, there’s a hidden cost:

The setup often takes longer than the assignment itself.

By finishing homework in school, you free up valuable time at home for things that matter more to you—reading, building skills, hobbies, projects, or simply spending time with friends.

Use Low-Value Periods Strategically

Not every period has equal value.

A chemistry class and a library period serve very different purposes. Some periods naturally demand more attention, while others give you flexibility.

Use those lower-demand periods for things that matter to you:

The key is to choose activities that don’t require intense concentration but still move you forward.

Education is no longer the only path toward growth. The students who thrive are often the ones who develop skills beyond the classroom.

Take Advantage of the Social Aspect

In my opinion, the best part of school isn’t the syllabus.

It’s the people.

Looking back, the most memorable parts of school were never specific lectures or assignments. They were conversations with friends, interactions with teachers, collaborative projects, and shared experiences.

Use school as an opportunity to:

I once worked on a research project with one of my closest friends. I barely remember some chapters from that year, but I still remember that project.

People matter more than periods.

Remember: School Is Not Your Entire Identity

Think of school as a job that doesn’t pay you.

Its purpose is to provide structure, credentials, and a formal education.

But just as adults aren’t defined entirely by their jobs, you shouldn’t define yourself entirely by school.

My mother works as a lecturer, but that’s not all she is. She also creates, builds, and pursues interests outside work.

Likewise, while I was in school, I wasn’t only a student. I made videos, worked on projects, wrote online, and explored interests beyond academics.

You are allowed to have ambitions that extend beyond your report card.

Keep the bigger picture in mind.

Teach Your Friends

One of the best ways to learn something is to teach it.

Whenever possible:

Teaching forces your brain to organize information clearly. It strengthens understanding and improves memory.

Whether it’s physics, current affairs, programming, or general knowledge, explaining ideas to others benefits everyone involved.

Don’t Waste Every Games Period

This one is slightly controversial.

Physical activity is important. Exercise matters. Sports matter.

But if you have multiple games periods every week, consider occasionally using one of them for something else:

Play most of the time—but don’t feel guilty about occasionally using that time differently if it genuinely helps you.

Sometimes small sacrifices create large gains.

Don’t Be Afraid of Being a Nerd

Being called a nerd used to be considered an insult.

I don’t think it is.

A nerd is simply someone who’s excited about learning, building, exploring, and understanding things.

That’s a good thing.

If you enjoy:

Then embrace it.

The people who create interesting things are often the people willing to obsess over them.

Being curious isn’t uncool.

Optimize Easy Subjects

Some subjects are much easier than others.

For many students, subjects like:

can be mastered with relatively little effort if approached correctly.

The goal isn’t to ignore them.

The goal is to study them efficiently.

For example, I completed most of my Informatics Practices preparation long before the board exams and only revised shortly before the exam. That allowed me to spend more time on subjects that demanded greater effort.

Think in terms of:

Maximum output with minimum necessary input.

Pay Attention in Class

Even when it’s boring.

This isn’t because every lecture is amazing.

It’s because attention itself is a skill.

We’re living through what feels like an attention crisis. Most people struggle to focus for extended periods.

Listening carefully in class trains that ability.

Even if you don’t fully understand the topic during the lecture, your brain is still building connections in the background. Later, when you study the topic independently, those earlier exposures help.

Paying attention also improves your relationship with teachers—which is never a bad thing.

Bend the Rules Occasionally

Not the important rules.

The harmless ones.

The moments you’ll remember years later usually aren’t the perfectly behaved days.

They’re the funny incidents:

Just don’t do anything dangerous.

Future you will appreciate the stories.

Keep the Big Picture in Mind

At times, school can feel frustrating.

The system has flaws. Teachers may misunderstand you. Rules can feel restrictive.

But being angry at the system rarely solves the problem.

Improving yourself does.

Focus on:

School influences your life, but it does not determine your future.

Many successful people learned outside classrooms.

What ultimately matters is what you do with the opportunities available to you.

Talk to Your Teachers

This is something many students underestimate.

Teachers are often just as frustrated with the education system as students are.

Many genuinely want to help.

Talk to them about:

You might be surprised by how supportive they can be.

A little empathy goes a long way.

Final Thoughts

School isn’t perfect.

But with the right mindset, you can turn it into something more useful than simply attending classes and collecting marks.

Use your time wisely.

Build skills.

Learn from people.

Stay curious.

And most importantly, keep sight of the bigger picture.

Your future will be shaped far more by what you choose to become than by what school tells you to be.

(This transcript was generated and optimised for readability by an LLM. Though I reviewed it, the stuff isn’t 1:1 approximation of the podcast episode, or my thoughts. But it’s pretty darn close to it.)